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The intention to concentrate in this region of the armaments industry was born already in 1921-1922 due to the experience of military circles from 1914-1920. At that time, the name "security triangle" appeared to describe the area beyond the reach of German and Soviet aviation.

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During the implementation of the project, this name lost its relevance due to the significant increase in the range of aircraft. In addition, this region was characterized by significant agrarian overpopulation and unemployment, which is why this investment was an opportunity for the development of these areas. Initially, the COP was to be located only here, and therefore in the areas furthest from the border with Germany and the Soviet Union, located in the forks of the San and Vistula, and from the south sheltered by the chain of the Carpathians. Then, however, the COP zone was enlarged by adjacent areas of the then voivodships: Kielce, Lublin, Lviv and Krakow.

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The Central Industrial District covered the areas of the present Świętokrzyskie, Podkarpackie, Lublin, Małopolskie and partly Mazovia (Radom) voivodships. In accordance with the defense needs of the country, the plans assumed the construction of new or modernization of already existing plants of the armaments industry. The COP investments were accompanied by the development of communication and energy infrastructure.

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The COP covered over 15% of the country's territory, inhabited by 18% of the population. In total, this area was about 60,000. km² and over 5.6 million people (93 people per km²), of which over 80% were residents of poor, overpopulated villages. In this region agrarian overpopulation was particularly visible, and the excess labor force (hidden unemployment) was estimated here at 500-700 thousand. people. The COP covered the areas of the provinces: the southern part of Kielce, the eastern part of Kraków, the western Lublin and Lviv. These were mainly agricultural wasteland, barren and overgrown dwarf farms and small farms that did not provide for farmers (outside the Lublin region).

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It was divided into three regions:

  • A - raw material: kielecki,

  • B - food supply: lubelski,

  • C - processing industry: sandomierski.

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The individual regions of the COP complement each other. The Kielce region, rich in minerals, was to constitute a raw material base; the Lublin region was to be an agricultural base, and the Sandomierz region an energy base (oil, natural gas, hydropower).

The most important part was located in the Vistula and San forks from the center in Sandomierz. The area located on the border between Poland A and B was actually identified with the entire district due to the large number of industrial plants.

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In 1939, it was planned to create the so-called "COP Province" - Sandomierskie Province, in whose borders were to be found, among others Kielce, Rzeszów and Radom.

Location of COP

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